I am so privileged to have the chance to meet with you! I have been providing individual, marriage and family therapy for 27 years now, and I learn new things about people and myself every session. I work routinely with people on anxiety, depression, grief, and many other life issues. We will look at your problems individually and by considering how the problem relates to or affects your family, marriage, and parenting relationships. I also specialize in addiction-related individual, marital and family therapy for both adolescents and adults, and I see children as young as 10 as well. I am a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the State of Iowa and am also licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist. I am confident that my years of experience uniquely equip me to help you with any of your individual addictions, marriage, and family situations.

I believe that most people can discover reasons to change and learn ways to cope with life’s challenges – even if they don’t think it is possible. Everyone has strengths and abilities that they have used to deal with problems. The counseling and therapy process enables people to focus on these skills and discover new ones, too. Today it is a blessing and a privilege to be a part of those changes as individuals and families face difficulties head-on to become the people they are meant to be.

My education includes a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from Iowa State University. My years of experience in the mental health and addiction fields have included work as a psychiatric technician, group home house manager, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor for adolescent outpatient treatment, child and adolescent senior therapist, and Employee Assistance Program supervisor. I also served for more than six years as manager of the UnityPoint Health Powell Chemical Dependency Center, the largest and longest running hospital-based addictions treatment center in Iowa.

My work in the community has included service and leadership in certifying and licensing addiction and mental health professionals as a long-time board member and past President of the Iowa Board of Certification, and as a past appointee by the Governor’s office to the Board of Behavioral Science in Iowa. Currently I volunteer weekly with Rise Up tutoring, a ministry to refugee and immigrant families provided through Table Church in Des Moines.

My personal interests include working on projects outdoors, hiking, fly fishing, walking, and growing daily in my faith and relationship with God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I am often busy enjoying family and church activities. I have been married to my best friend Holly, for over 33 years and I have three adult children aged 28, 26, and 24.

My areas of professional interest include:

· Marriage and family therapy for addiction issues – helping the recovering person and family members understand addiction and rebuild relationships

· Relapse prevention in addictions – how to sustain successful recovery

· Anxiety and depression coping skills for pre-teens through adults

· Narrative therapy – seeing problems as separate from who we are helps us oppose them

· Solution-focused, motivational enhancement and cognitive behavioral therapy as evidence based practice – using proven methods of therapy to get results

· Promoting the therapeutic alliance in counseling sessions – when people connect with their therapist, change happens faster

· Integrating faith with the process of personal and family change

I look forward to meeting with you, and exploring together the possibilities and abilities you bring to the table as we work to solve the problems that brought you here.